LETTER XIV. 10o 



kind of " Creek ! creek ! creek ! " We chased several, which 

 escaped just as we made sure of their capture, by disappearing 

 and appearing no more. One went into a bed of reeds, through 

 which we forced the boat, and succeeded in frightening him out 

 into the clear water, but when the boat had got within forty yards 

 of him, he rose upon the wing with great ease and flew clean off 

 to the other end of the loch. 



XIV. 



Iona, 23rd November 1852. 



The Black Guillemot (Jlria grylle). 



This is a constant resident around our coasts ; in every boating 

 excursion it may be frequently met with, both in summer and 

 winter. Perhaps they are rather more numerous in summer, for 

 then small flocks are to be found clustering around all the more 

 unfrequented islets, which are haunted by them for the purpose 

 of incubation. Here during the breeding season they may be 

 seen in full activity, diving in pursuit of small fry, and flitting 

 to and fro between their nests and the surface of the water, while 

 others sit erect, ranged along the rocks overhanging the sea, 

 gasping out a plaintive wheezing noise, something like the com- 

 plainings of a set of very young kittens. This seems to be their 

 only cry, for, except at this time of year, they are entirely mute. 



The nests are concealed in all manner of out-of-the-way holes, 

 under large detached rocks, in deep crevices, or in small caves. 



